NORFOLK — After residents, employees, and stakeholders weighed in last year, the city recently launched its new website, smartphone app, and resident portal.
The previous digital platforms had been updated more than eight years ago, and when asked in 2018, users called them “outdated”, “cluttered” and “difficult to navigate,” officials said in a news release.
“We recognized the need for an enhanced system to better serve citizens,” City Manager Chip Filer said.
Now the most popular services like trash collection, pothole repair, and bulk item pick-up are all on the website’s “more mobile-friendly” homepage where a search bar asking “How may we help you?” also lives.
Access to MyNorfolk residential portal is one-click from the homepage where residents can submit service requests, and with the MyNorfolk mobile app, they can even track those requests and upload related photos using the camera feature.
“In addition to service requests, the MyNorfolk app will provide access to City Council news, events, parking and other services found on Norfolk.gov to help keep citizens up-to-date with new information,” officials said.
Although the platforms are LIVE, they haven’t been completely finalized as city officials said the sites will eventually include Amazon’s cloud-based voice service, Alexa, “to deliver seamless customer service.”
Officials said they’ll also continue to make improvements as they receive feedback about the new sites.
“These new platforms put the power of city government in the palm of [residents, businesses, and visitors’] hand,” Filer said.
Explore the city’s new website by clicking here and the new residential portal, here.
